Lake County

Alejandro "Alex" Garcia was murdered April 8, 2022. More than 10 months later, two men-an uncle and nephew-have been charged with his murder. COURTESY PHOTO: Shantell Johnson

Armed Robbery Suspect and Nephew Charged in 2022 Tavares Murder

Clermont, Inside Scoop, Mount Dora, Tavares, Unincorporated Lake / By

TAVARES, Florida—Last August, only Inside Lake uncovered a man accused of multiple armed robberies across Lake County was suspected in the murder of Alejandro “Alex” Garcia.

On Thursday, Dustin “Chico” Perdue was charged with his murder; and on Monday night his nephew, Octavious Marquis Reed was nabbed by U.S. Marshals and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Street Crimes Unit, Tavares Police Detective Courtney Sullivan told Inside Lake.

Perdue, 27, and Reed, 23, are accused of shooting Garcia, 29, and Darnell Lester, 31, April 8, 2022 at Caroline Court Apartments, 1000 East Caroline Street in Tavares. Garcia, of Mount Dora, succumbed to his injuries and died and Lester—shot multiple times—attempted to drive himself away from the scene but crashed the bullet-ridden vehicle he was driving, Sullivan told Inside Lake the night of the incident. Sullivan is also TPD’s public information officer (PIO.)

Neither Garcia nor Lester lived at the complex but were known to hang out there and are related to each other, Sullivan said. Lester’s last known is address is Apopka.

TPD is not releasing much information in the case, including a motive and the probable cause affidavits in the case are sealed.

Perdue, who was already in the Lake County Jail on no bond facing 14 charges related to multiple armed robberies in Clermont, Mount Dora, Tavares and unincorporated Mount Dora, has been in LCJ since August 2022, when he was arrested on a traffic stop following an armed robbery in Clermont. His alleged accomplice in the robberies, Patrick Antonio Brown, 22, was also arrested and is being held on no bond. Brown is not a suspect in Garcia’s murder and Lester’s shooting in April, Sullivan said.   

In Garcia’s murder, Perdue and Reed are both facing one count each of first degree murder, attempted murder and discharging a firearm on residential property; Perdue is facing an additional charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. When Reed was taken into custody Monday, he was carrying a concealed firearm and marijuana and is facing two additional charges.

They are both being held in the Lake County Jail on no bond.

Two People Shot, One Killed in Tavares Friday Night
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Pair of Armed Robbers Suspected in Multiple Crimes Arrested, Police Say
Pair of Accused Robbers Facing More Charges, One Suspected of Tavares Murder, Police Say
More Charges For Armed Robbery Duo

Armed Robbery Suspect and Nephew Charged in 2022 Tavares Murder Read More »

PHOTO: Lake County Sheriff's Office

Man, Angry Over a Ride, Accused of Slapping Deputy’s Hand and Disorderly Intoxication

Inside Scoop, Leesburg, Unincorporated Lake / By

LEESBURG, Florida—A man apparently angry that a pair of Uber delivery drivers would not take him anywhere, slapped a deputy’s hand, got tased and went to jail Saturday night, according to an arrest affidavit.

 A Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputy was flagged down in the 11000 block of Huggins Street in the Bassville Park area of Leesburg by two females around 10:30 pm. Saturday. The pair told the deputy they arrived at a home on Huggins to pick up a package and they were approached by Jemerh Tyrik Cosby, 26, who lived at the home. Cosby, who they said appeared to be very intoxicated, reportedly became angry when he found out the pair did not transport passengers and beat the vehicle’s windows and screamed there was going to be a serious problem if they did not give him a ride, the affidavit states.

LCSO responded to the home and observed Cosby sitting in the carport and was instantly “greeted with a barrage of obscenities from the arrestee.” Cosby shouted obscenities at the deputy for several minutes and “continuously got directly in my face,” the deputy noted in the affidavit. The deputy pushed Cosby back several times and Cosby finally slapped the deputy’s hand away and the deputy tased him. Cosby fell to the ground and was taken into custody for battery on a law enforcement officer and disorderly intoxication. He was transported to the Lake County Jail, where he  was released on $6,000 bond

Man, Angry Over a Ride, Accused of Slapping Deputy’s Hand and Disorderly Intoxication Read More »

FHP: Suspect Fleeing Lady Lake Police Crashes Into SUV, Sends Woman, 2 Teens to the Hospital

Fruitland Park, Inside Scoop, Lady Lake / By

FRUITLAND PARK, Florida—The Florida Highway Patrol has released information on the crash that killed a suspect and sent three people to the hospital Saturday afternoon.

A 35-year-old Orlando man driving a black Hyundai Elantra fled Lady Lake Police Department just after 4 p.m. Saturday and “due to its recklessness and speeds Lady Lake PD lost sight of (the car,) FHP Lt. Channing Taylor said.

The Hyundai continued to drive recklessly and began driving southbound in the northbound lanes of U.S. Highway 27/441 near 466A in Fruitland Park. The Hyundai struck a silver Kia Sportage being driven by a 43-year-old woman of The Villages. The driver of the Hyundai was pronounced dead at the scene and the woman was seriously injured. Her passengers, two teen girls, aged 13 and 14, also of The Villages, received minor injuries. All three were transported to area hospitals, Taylor said.

FHP was requested to assist in the crash investigation approximately two and a half hours after the crash.

Fruitland Park Police Chief Erik Luce released a statement on the crash late Saturday night.

FPPD was notified that LLPD was pursuing a vehicle into the city limits of Fruitland Park after a LLPD officer stated on the radio a suspect attempted to use their vehicle to run into an officer, Luce said in a press release.

The officer was investigating a theft at Home Depot, 871 U.S. Highway 27, Lady Lake when the incident occurred.

The suspect fled down U.S. Highway 27/441, crossed the center median and began driving southbound in the northbound lanes at an estimated 110 miles per hour. A Fruitland Park Police officer spotted the fleeing car and activated emergency lights but was unable to catch up to the vehicle, Luce said.

The incident remains under investigation.

Suspect Flees Lady Lake Police Wrong Way Down U.S. 27, Crashes into Vehicle, Suspect Dead, 3 Airlifted

FHP: Suspect Fleeing Lady Lake Police Crashes Into SUV, Sends Woman, 2 Teens to the Hospital Read More »

PHOTO: Florida Highway Patrol

Man, 21, Killed in ATV Crash

Inside Scoop, Leesburg, Unincorporated Lake / By

LEESBURG, Florida—The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating an ATV crash that killed a Leesburg man Saturday afternoon.

The 21-year-old man struck a pole while riding an ATV around 5:15 p.m. and was pronounced dead on the scene at Veech Road and Pruitt Street near Leesburg, FHP Lt. Channing Taylor said in a press release.

It is unknown if the man was riding the ATV on the roadway, or if he was wearing a helmet. There was no other information available at press time because FHP’s traffic homicide investigator was sent to additional fatal crashes that occurred soon after the ATV crash, Taylor said.

FHP is also investigating a fatal crash in Fruitland Park that killed a suspect fleeing Lady Lake Police Department.

Man, 21, Killed in ATV Crash Read More »

PHOTO: Lady Lake Police Department

Suspect Flees Lady Lake Police Wrong Way Down U.S. 27, Crashes into Vehicle, Suspect Dead, 3 Airlifted

Fruitland Park, Inside Scoop, Lady Lake / By

FRUITLAND Park, Florida—A theft suspect is dead after fleeing from Lady Lake Police Department Saturday afternoon, crashing into an unsuspecting vehicle and sending three people to the hospital, according to Fruitland Park Police Chief Erik Luce.  

 FPPD was notified that Lady Lake Police Department was pursuing a vehicle into the city limits of Fruitland Park after a LLPD officer stated on the radio a suspect attempted to use their vehicle to run into an officer, Luce said in a press release.

The officer was investigating a theft at Home Depot, 871 U.S. Highway 27, Lady Lake when the incident occurred.

The suspect fled down U.S. Highway 27, crossed the center median and began driving southbound in the northbound lanes of U.S. Highway 27 at an estimated 110 miles per hour. A Fruitland Park Police officer spotted the fleeing car and activated emergency lights but was unable to catch up to the vehicle, Luce said.

The vehicle then struck another vehicle that was traveling in the proper direction; the suspect was pronounced dead on the scene and three occupants in the other vehicle were airlifted to local hospitals with serious injuries.

The Florida Highway Patrol is assisting FPPD with the crash investigation. According to FHP Lt. Channing Taylor, the deceased suspect was driving a black Hyundai and struck a Kia occupied by the three crash victims. No names have been released by either agency.

The crash closed U.S. Highway 27 for the rest of the afternoon Saturday and most of the night.

Suspect Flees Lady Lake Police Wrong Way Down U.S. 27, Crashes into Vehicle, Suspect Dead, 3 Airlifted Read More »

Darryl and Sharon Getman were found murdered in their home Dec. 31.

State to Seek Death Penalty in Brutal Murders of Elderly Mount Dora Couple

Inside Scoop, Mount Dora, Tavares / By

TAVARES, Florida—The woman accused of brutally stabbing an elderly Mount Dora couple in their Waterman Village home may pay for the crimes with her life.

On Thursday morning, Assistant State Attorney Jamie McManus e-filed a “notice of intent to seek the death penalty,” in the case against Vickie Lynn Williams, 50, for the murders of Darryl Getman, 83, and Sharon Getman, 80. The married couple was murdered in their home sometime between the hours of 11 p.m. Dec. 30, 2022, and 2 a.m. Dec. 31.

The Getmans’ bodies were found by Mount Dora Police officers after they received two 9-1-1 calls, with one caller stating two people had been killed, according to Williams’ probable cause affidavit.

Vickie Lynn Williams, 50, made her first appearance in front of Lake County Judge Emily Curington in January.

In a gruesome and bloody scene, numerous bloody footprints and shoe prints were found inside the home on Lake Margaret Circle and in the garage where the Getmans normally kept their green Kia Soul. Police say Williams killed the elderly couple and stole the Kia, travelling first to South Carolina and then to Savannah, where she was apprehended by a Savannah Police officer at an Amtrak station on Jan. 2. She was still in possession of the Kia when she was taken into custody, the affidavit states.

Williams had no known connection to the Getmans or Mount Dora.

Mount Dora Police Interim Chief Michael Gibson, FDLE SAC Lee Massie and Mount Dora Mayor Crissy Stile hold a press conference in January to discuss the murders of a married couple in their 80s found dead Dec. 31. PHOTO: Marilyn M. Aciego/Inside Lake

Williams was originally arrested just for grand theft auto, and two first-degree murder charges were added later; the cases have since been consolidated; Inside Lake was the first media organization to report the added charges and only Inside Lake discovered Mount Dora Police officers interacted with a woman believed to be Williams at a Mount Dora Hampton Inn just hours before the murder.

A discovery exhibit recently filed by the state contains 10 pages of witnesses’ names and addresses, including one witness with the same address as Hampton Inn, and several of the Getmans’ neighbors.

Williams next plea negotiation conference in scheduled for March 7, but it is common for murder cases, especially death penalty cases, to take more than a year to go to trial. She is represented by John Spivey of the Lake County Public Defender’s Office.

Suspect in Mount Dora Double Slayings Indicted by Grand Jury
Mount Dora Couple Brutally Stabbed Multiple Times, Suspect Found at Savannah Amtrak Station, According to Probable Cause Affidavit

State to Seek Death Penalty in Brutal Murders of Elderly Mount Dora Couple Read More »

PHOTO: Florida Highway Patrol

Troopers Investigating Fatal ATV Crash Near Leesburg

Inside Scoop, Leesburg, Unincorporated Lake / By

LEESBURG, Florida—An ATV crash has killed at least one person Saturday afternoon, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Troopers are investigating the crash at Veech Road and Pruitt Street that occurred around 5:20 p.m., FHP Lt. Channing Taylor said in an email; no other information has been released. There is a roadblock in the area.

This is a developing story.

Troopers Investigating Fatal ATV Crash Near Leesburg Read More »

PHOTO: Mazda

Leesburg Woman Accused of Keeping Loaner SUV for More than a Month

Clermont, Inside Scoop, Leesburg / By

CLERMONT, Florida—A woman who police say kept a loaner vehicle for more than a month, turned herself in at the Lake County Jail Thursday on a warrant for failure to redeliver a hired vehicle, according to an arrest affidavit.

Tamera Shania Pollard, 26, of Leesburg, dropped off her vehicle, a silver 2014 Mazda 6 for service at Headquarter Mazda, 17500 State Road 50, Clermont, and was given a white 2022 Mazda CX-30 as a loaner vehicle on July 15, 2022, a representative of the dealership told Clermont Police Department on Aug. 19, 2022.

Tamera Pollard PHOTO: Lake County Sheriff’s Office

Pollard failed to return the vehicle and the dealership attempted to contact her by phone, email and certified mail to no avail. The crossover SUV was entered as stolen and on Aug. 21, 2022 it was pulled over by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. Pollard was in the vehicle, but she was not arrested and the SUV was impounded. The LCSO deputy told CPD he did not arrest Pollard because she was cooperative and he did not see a warrant for her arrest.

The following day Pollard called the dealership to inquire about her vehicle she had dropped off for service more than a month prior, but it is unclear in the affidavit whether Pollard ever picked the car up.

A warrant was issued for Pollard on Aug. 24, 2022, and she turned herself in Thursday at LCJ, where she was released on $5,000 bond.

Leesburg Woman Accused of Keeping Loaner SUV for More than a Month Read More »

FHP: Multivehicle Crash Kills 2, Shuts Down Southbound Turnpike Lanes, Delays Expected for Hours

Clermont, Inside Scoop, Leesburg / By

LEESBURG, Florida—Two people are dead following a multivehicle crash that shut down the southbound lanes of Florida’s Turnpike, according to Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Channing Taylor.

The crash involves four passenger vehicles and two tractor-trailers and two people were pronounced dead at the scene, Taylor said.

Southbound traffic is being diverted at mile marker 289 and travelers should expect heavy traffic and delays for several hours, according to Taylor.

FHP: Multivehicle Crash Kills 2, Shuts Down Southbound Turnpike Lanes, Delays Expected for Hours Read More »

Polk County Sheriff's Office Detention Deputy Drake Perry PHOTO: Polk County Sheriff's Office

Polk County Detention Deputy Killed in Groveland Crash Wednesday

Groveland, Inside Scoop, Unincorporated Lake / By

GROVELAND, Florida—The young man killed in the head-on crash with a semi on State Road 33 in Groveland Wednesday has been identified as a Polk County detention deputy, by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO.)

Drake Sawyer Perry, 22, of Ocoee, was driving a 2014 Mazda 3 northbound on State Road 33 near Double H Lane when he veered into the southbound lane and struck a 2014 Volvo semi-truck head-on being driven by a 32-year-old man from Duluth, Georgia at 11:20 a.m. Wednesday. The semi then hit the rear left of a 2018 Hyundai Elantra, being driven by a 34-year-old Clermont woman, according to Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Tara Crescenzi.

Polk County Detention Deputy Drake Perry, left, was killed in a crash in Groveland Wednesday. PHOTO: Polk County Sheriff’s Office

Perry was pronounced dead on the scene and the driver of the truck was transported to Orlando Health South Lake Hospital in Clermont with serious injuries. The Clermont woman and her passenger were not injured, Crescenzi said.

Perry was dual-certified as a detention deputy and law enforcement officer and began working for PCSO in December 2022. He was off-duty at the time of the crash.   

“We are all grieving at the loss of this young deputy who was just starting out in his career. Deputy Perry was an outstanding cadet in the academy, and his classmates and coworkers remember him as always smiling, always positive, and a team player who was always helping others. He was a natural born leader and aspired to be on the SWAT team. He will be greatly missed. Please keep his family in your prayers,” PCSO Sheriff Grady Judd said in a statement.

The crash remains under investigation.

Polk County Detention Deputy Drake Perry at his swearing-in ceremony with Sheriff Grady Judd, his grandmother, and his brother. Perry was killed in a crash in Groveland Wednesday. PHOTO: Polk County Sheriff’s Office

Polk County Detention Deputy Killed in Groveland Crash Wednesday Read More »

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